One Shotgun.

[powderedtoastman]

I want a high-quality shotgun that I can use for pheasant, quail, dove, sporting clays, skeet, and trap. I want a shotgun that I can pass down to my children, and their children, etc. One thing I would prefer for this shotgun is that I can hand it to the Mrs. and she can shoot it without getting her teeth knocked loose, or straining to hold it up. Currently she can shoot my model 11 for maybe 25 rounds, then she's had enough. Things I'd prefer:
-around $2500 out the door
-wood furniture
-gas operated/less felt recoil
-"fittable" to me, i.e. shims for cast, drop, etc.

So far, I've handled the Benelli Ethos, and the new A5. The Browning fit me way better and felt better, but I'm not sure about the inertia/recoil systems and felt recoil with these. So far, my top prospects are these:
1. Browning Maxus Hunter
2. Browning A5
3. Beretta A400 Xplor Unico
4. Remington Versa-Max
5. Benelli Ethos, or Montefeltro

Any other ideas? Things to consider?

[epic1856]

If you live driving distance to Azusa, CA go visit http://www.pacificsportingarms.com/ and tell them exactly what you just posted. You'll find what you are looking.

[NATEWA]

Benelli montrefeltro in 20 guage with a limbsaver recoil pad. My father in law has one. Very fun to shoot, light, reliable, well built, good looking gun, easy to clean, etc

[Thefeeder]

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A lot of your questions will answered this Sat at the Cilinic, we will be covering how to choose a shotgun and shotgun fit.
Pm me if you what to try any O/Us

[NATEWA]

A400 xplor in 20 guage is also a winner and gas operated. That have the kick off stock? If so, that might be the way to go.

[AR-15]

Benelli or A5.

[smittty]

I tried as many shotguns as I could and I looked for almost a year before I found the right fit. Mine is an O/U. It was a bit pricey for me at the time but after finding it I never looked at another shotgun again. That was about 20 years ago and it's still going strong.

Enjoy the search!

[bigbearbear]

Wing and clay shooting shotguns are by their nature, very personal firearms, due to the need for for very good fit to the individual shooter. As such, I would recommend that you get a shotgun that fits you, and get another shotgun for your wife that fits her. Otherwise, you'll end up with something that sort-of works but never quite right for anyone.

And oh, forget about the passing it down to the children thing. You're better off investing in time and effort in educating and teaching them about firearms and how to shoot a shotgun. The shotgun itself will most likely not fit them anyway and probably ended up being traded in for a $50 Walmart gift card by their spouse during one of those gun buyback programs.

Wife and I use Benelli shotguns, that's our preference. She uses a Benelli M2 Field Compact 12 gauge and I use a Benelli Supersport 12 gauge. The shims for both of us is different, as is the length of pull and barrel length. If we try to use each other's gun, we don't do very well.

Don't discount O/U shotguns too, recommend you check with TheFeeder about this. My shotguns are semi-autos because they are also our primary home defense firearms and we want the higher capacity of a semi-auto. For a purely hunting/sporting shotgun, O/U shotguns are really nice.

[savannah]

Beretta 391. Great gun.

Let your wife choose her own shotgun. Odds are you both will have a very different "fit". Any gun that fits you, will probably not work for her. We are built different.

Find a gun you love and buy it, find a gun your wife loves and buy it. Get them both fitted.

[JohnnyMtn]

This question has come up a few times in past few days and I've made the same suggestion each time. As said above, the Beretta 391 is a great gun. I've had mine for a number of years and it's one of my favorites. It's just a well made, quality gun.

[powderedtoastman]

Thanks for the input! I always thought an O/U would kick a lot harder than a semi-auto, but the only O/U's I've shot are Lanber, Stoeger, etc. As far as "passing down", I should have said not literally. What I mean is, I have a Browning A5 that my great grandpa purchased new and it still functions 100%. I just want a gun that will outlast me and not fail/fall apart prematurely. I've stacked a lot of bread for a long time, and just want to do this right. My wife is very insecure about shooting shotguns, and doesn't want "her own", but she enjoys shooting mine for a few rounds, so maybe when she's ready I'll have her try out some 20 gauges in over/under and semi-auto.

[JohnCCW]

O/U will kick less because it is heavier, typically.
One vote for the Montefeltro Silver 12GA.